Stories
61
0
19680
30
Articles: Test & Measurement
Test engineers are facing new pressures to develop high-performance test systems that maximize efficiency. Despite rapidly increasing device complexity, they have to deliver higher-speed and...
Application Briefs: Sensors/Data Acquisition
STEREO observatories and Solar Probe Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory Laurel, MD 240-228-5000 www.jhuapl.edu
NASA’s Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO) is comprised of two...
Application Briefs: Sensors/Data Acquisition
Spacecraft leak detection system Invocon Conroe, TX 281-292-9903 www.invocon.com
NASA has selected a spacecraft leak detection system from Invocon that would sense and locate air leaks in...
Products
Aegis Software, Horsham, PA, has introduced iMonitor 2.0 software that enables manufacturers to create real-time dashboards to monitor their enterprise, factory, and processes through Web browsers. It provides interactive...
Who's Who: Electronics & Computers
As Engineering Branch Chief for NASA's Advanced Supercomputing Division, Bill Thigpen led the team that built and deployed the 10,240-processor Columbia...
Briefs: Electronics & Computers
A hand-held instrument that would include an ultrasonic camera has been proposed as an efficient means of reading matrix symbols. The proposed instrument could be operated without...
Briefs: Information Technology
Visual Data Analysis for Satellites
The Visual Data Analysis Package is a collection of programs and scripts that facilitate visual analysis of data available from NASA and NOAA satellites, as well as dropsonde, buoy, and conventional in-situ observations. The package features utilities for data extraction, data quality control, statistical...
Briefs: Physical Sciences
A method and apparatus have been developed to solve the problem of automated acquisition and tracking, from a location on the ground, of a luminous moving target in the sky. The method...
Briefs: Electronics & Computers
Compact, highly customizable digital receivers are being developed for the system described in "Radar Interferometer for Topographic Mapping of Glaciers and Ice Sheets" (NPO-43962), NASA Tech Briefs,...
Briefs: Information Technology
A Data Type for Efficient Representation of Other Data Types
A self-organizing, monomorphic data type denoted a sequence has been conceived to address certain concerns (summarized below) that arise in programming parallel computers. ["Sequence" as used here should not be confused with "sequence" as the word is commonly understood or with "sequence"...
Briefs: Semiconductors & ICs
Several improved designs for complementary metal oxide/semiconductor (CMOS) integrated- circuit image detectors have been developed, primarily to reduce dark currents (leakage currents) and...
Briefs: Electronics & Computers
A new version of the double-Y balun, transitioning from an unbalanced microstrip to a balanced coplanar strip (CPS) line, has been designed to feed a complementary spiral antenna with an...
Briefs: Electronics & Computers
A Topographical Lidar System for Terrain-Relative Navigation
An imaging lidar system is being developed for use in navigation, relative to the local terrain. This technology will potentially be used for future spacecraft landing on the Moon. Systems like this one could also be used on Earth for diverse purposes, including mapping terrain,...
Briefs: Electronics & Computers
Integrated circuits have been invented for managing the charging and discharging of such advanced miniature energy-storage devices as planar arrays of microscopic energy- storage...
Briefs: Electronics & Computers
Programmable Low-Voltage Circuit Breaker and Tester
An instrumentation system that would comprise a remotely controllable and programmable low- voltage circuit breaker plus several electric- circuit-testing subsystems has been conceived, originally for use aboard a spacecraft during all phases of operation from pre-launch testing through launch,...
Briefs: Manufacturing & Prototyping
This innovation consists of a set of methodologies for preparing large area (>1 cm2) domains of single-atomic-layer graphite, also called graphene, in single (two-dimensional)...
Briefs: Manufacturing & Prototyping
Solar Power Industries' (SPI) current annual production capacity for processing polycrystalline silicon feedstock into completed solar cells has grown to 40 megawatts, with...
Briefs: Electronics & Computers
Support for Diagnosis of Custom Computer Hardware
The Coldfire SDN Diagnostics software is a flexible means of exercising, testing, and debugging custom computer hardware. The software is a set of routines that, collectively, serve as a common software interface through which one can gain access to various parts of the hardware under test and/or...
Briefs: Information Technology
Providing Goal-Based Autonomy for Commanding a Spacecraft
A computer program for use aboard a scientific- exploration spacecraft autonomously selects among goals specified in high-level requests and generates corresponding sequences of low-level commands, understandable by spacecraft systems. (As used here, "goals" signifies specific scientific...
Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems
Dynamic Method For Identifying Collected Sample Mass
G-Sample is designed for sample collection missions to identify the presence and quantity of sample material gathered by spacecraft equipped with end effectors. The software method uses a maximum-likelihood estimator to identify the collected sample's mass based on onboard force-sensor...
Briefs: Information Technology
Optimal Planning and Problem-Solving
CTAEMS MDP Optimal Planner is a problem- solving software designed to command a single spacecraft/rover, or a team of spacecraft/ rovers, to perform the best action possible at all times according to an abstract model of the spacecraft/rover and its environment. It also may be useful in solving logistical...
Briefs: Information Technology
Attitude-Control Algorithm for Minimizing Maneuver Execution Errors
A G-RAC attitude- control algorithm is used to minimize maneuver execution error in a spacecraft with a flexible appendage when said spacecraft must induce translational momentum by firing (in open loop) large thrusters along a desired direction for a given period of time. The...
Briefs: Information Technology
Grants Document-Generation System
The Grants Document- Generation System (GDGS) software allows the generation of official grants documents for distribution to the appropriate parties. The documents are created after the selection and entry of specific data elements and clauses. GDGS is written in Cold Fusion that resides on an SQL2000 database and...
Briefs: Materials
Precipitation-Strengthened, High-Temperature, High-Force Shape Memory Alloys
Shape memory alloys (SMAs) are an enabling component in the development of compact, lightweight, durable, high-force actuation systems particularly for use where hydraulics or electrical motors are not practical. However, commercial shape memory alloys based on NiTi are...
Briefs: Materials
A heat-storage module based on a commercial open-cell graphite foam (PocoFoam or equivalent) imbued with lithium nitrate trihydrate (LiNO3•3H2O) has been developed as a...
Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems
The balanced-piston relief valve with side vented reaction cavity has been proposed as an improved alternative to a conventional high- pressure, high-flow relief valve. As explained...
Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems
Using Composite Materials in a Cryogenic Pump
Several modifications have been made to the design and operation of an extended-shaft cryogenic pump to increase the efficiency of pumping. In general, the efficiency of pumping a cryogenic fluid is limited by thermal losses (the thermal energy that the pump adds to the fluid). The sources of the...
Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems
Safety Modification of Cam-and-Groove Hose Coupling
A modification has been made in the mating halves of a cam-and- groove hose coupling to prevent rapid separation of the halves in the event that the cam levers are released while the fluid in the hose is pressurized. This modification can be duplicated on almost any commercially available cam-and-...
Top Stories
Blog: Power
My Opinion: We Need More Power Soon — Is Nuclear the Answer?
Blog: AR/AI
Aerial Microrobots That Can Match a Bumblebee's Speed
News: Energy
Blog: Electronics & Computers
Turning Edible Fungi into Organic Memristors
Blog: Robotics, Automation & Control
Microscopic Swimming Machines that Can Sense, Respond to Surroundings
INSIDER: Sensors/Data Acquisition
Webcasts
Upcoming Webinars: Transportation
Hydrogen Engines Are Heating Up for Heavy Duty
Upcoming Webinars: Automotive
Advantages of Smart Power Distribution Unit Design for Automotive...
Upcoming Webinars: Automotive
Quiet, Please: NVH Improvement Opportunities in the Early Design...
Upcoming Webinars: Test & Measurement
From Spreadsheets to Insights: Fast Data Analysis Without Complex...
Upcoming Webinars: Automotive
Battery Abuse Testing: Pushing to Failure

